Device to attach a sound suppressor to a firearm

ABSTRACT

A device to attach a sound suppressor to a firearm includes a muzzle brake that attaches to a muzzle of the firearm; a suppressor attachment that attaches to an interior surface of a suppressor tube of the sound suppressor; a suppressor lock that comprises: an extending part on an end of the muzzle brake, having a first attachment point near the muzzle for both sealing and locking, and a second, distal attachment point for locking; a corresponding ending part on the suppressor attachment, having a third attachment point for both sealing and locking, and a fourth attachment point for locking; and a threaded, rotating ring within the suppressor attachment. The suppressor tube is driven toward the firearm, and the attachment points wedges and lock together, thereby providing both a gas seal and a two locks.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/305,339, filed Feb. 17, 2010, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to firearms and morespecifically to a device to attach a sound suppressor to a firearm.

A sound suppressor or “silencer” is a device attached to the barrel of afirearm to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing theweapon. Currently available sound suppressors utilize screw threads orspring means to attach to the firearm. If current sound suppressors arenot attached correctly, harm may occur, especially when the weapon isfired.

It would be desirable to have a sound suppressor that helps avoid harmdue to incorrect attachment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a device to attach a soundsuppressor to a firearm includes a muzzle brake that attaches to amuzzle of the firearm; a suppressor attachment that attaches to aninterior surface of a suppressor tube of the sound suppressor; asuppressor lock that comprises: an extending part on an end of themuzzle brake, having a first attachment point near the muzzle for bothsealing and locking, and a second, distal attachment point for locking;a corresponding ending part on the suppressor attachment, having a thirdattachment point for both sealing and locking, and a fourth attachmentpoint for locking; and a threaded, rotating ring within the suppressorattachment; wherein, when the suppressor tube is rotated relative to themuzzle, the suppressor tube is driven utilizing the rotating ring towardthe firearm, the first attachment point wedges to and locks with thethird attachment point, thereby providing both a gas seal and a firstlock, and the second attachment point is in contact with the fourthattachment point, thereby providing a second lock.

In another aspect of the present invention, a device to attach asuppressor to the muzzle of a firearm includes a muzzle brake thatattaches to the muzzle of the firearm and comprises a extending part ofa suppressor lock and a gas flow-directing opening; an internalalignment guide that attaches to the muzzle brake and guides theinsertion of the suppressor to the muzzle brake; an internal lockingdevice that attaches to the muzzle brake and comprises a feextendingpart of the suppressor lock; a tensioning ring that attaches to theinternal locking device and is fastened to the suppressor; and a rearcap that attaches to the rearmost part of the suppressor body andcooperates with the gas flow-directing opening of the muzzle brake toseal in gases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of anattachment device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A shows a side view of a mount muzzle brake of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the mount muzzle brake of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 shows an internal alignment guide the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of an internal locking device of theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B shows an end view of the internal locking device of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5A shows a cutaway view of a tensioning ring of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5B shows an end view of the tensioning ring of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of a rear cap of the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 6B shows an end view of the rear cap of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a suppressor tube and afirearm barrel; and

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with asuppressor tube and a firearm barrel in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides adevice that can attach a sound suppressor to the muzzle end of a firearmwithout employing conventional screw threads or spring means.

As depicted in FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an attachment device100, also called a suppressor mount, may include a muzzle brake 10 orflash hider that may attach to the barrel of a firearm, and a suppressorattachment 64 that attaches to a suppressor tube. Suppressor attachment64 may include an internal alignment guide 20 that facilitates theinsertion of the suppressor to the firearm utilizing the muzzle brake10, an internal locking device 30 that holds a part of a lockingmechanism, a tensioning ring 40 that may be mated to the internallocking device 30 and may also be fastened to the suppressor, and a rearcap 50 that may seat against the muzzle brake. A part might be“internal” to the sound suppressor in that it is part of the suppressorattachment 64 and therefore inside the sound suppressor. Other partsmight be “external” in that it is part of the muzzle brake 10, which isattached to the firearm. A direction might also be “:rear” or“rearward”, which is against the direction that the firearm will shoot,which is proximate and toward the user, or at an otherwise distal,remote position, which is in the same direction the firearm will shoot.

As depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, an embodiment of a muzzle brake 10 mayprovide a mount for the suppressor that is either removably orpermanently attached to a firearm barrel. The muzzle brake 10 may have arear external gas check 12 or gasket that may provide gas-flow sealingmeans when mated up to an internal gas check 34 or seal (on the rear cap50 depicted in FIG. 6A). The muzzle brake may comprise gas ports 14 thatcan be slots or any shape opening designed to reduce flash. There can bean external alignment key 16 comprising a contour of flats and shapesthat provide alignment as well as the male part or an otherwiseextending part of a suppressor lock to lock the suppressor in place whenthe muzzle brake is mated to the internal locking device (30). Theseflats and shapes can be machined into the front of the device in thecase that muzzle brake 10 is a muzzle brake, or on the back of thedevice in the case the muzzle brake 10 is a flash hider. The shape canbe made to allow the suppressor to be mounted one way only or two ways180 degrees apart. The muzzle brake can also have a locking slot 18 thatcan mate to a matching shape in the internal locking device 30. When theinternal locking device 30 rotates, this locking slot 18 can stop therotation, allowing the suppressor to tighten up on the mount.

When completed, the suppressor may be in contact with the muzzle brake10 in two locations, rear external gas check 12 and external alignmentkey 16. Having two points of contact counteracts leverage and keeps thesuppressor aligned, to avoid improper mounting. When a user rotates themuzzle brake 10 inside the suppressor, the suppressor moves rearwarduntil external gas check 12 and an internal gas check (on the rear cap50 of the suppressor attachment 64) make contact, and external alignmentkey 16 and an internal locking surface 26 (on the locking receiver 30 ofthe suppressor attachment 64) make contact. Further rotation may causetension between the two points of contact, so that the muzzle brake 10(which attaches to the firearm) and the suppressor attachment 64 (forthe suppressor tube) wedge and lock together.

As depicted in FIG. 3, an embodiment of an internal alignment guide 20may ease the insertion of the suppressor muzzle brake onto the firearm.Alignment guide 20 may include an end part 23 tapering inward andforward with an angle of from about 30 to 60 degrees, for example 45degrees from the exterior to the interior that can act as a guide forthe external alignment key 16 of the muzzle brake 10 (shown in FIG. 2A).The diameter of a smooth outside surface 22 may match with an insidediameter of the suppressor tube.

As depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, an embodiment of an internal lockingdevice 30 may have an internal diameter 24 that can receive and hold thefemale part of the locking point 16 of the muzzle brake 10 (shown inFIG. 2A). Internal diameter 24 may allow the external alignment key 16to pass through and can have a shaped internal locking surface 26 thatcan mate to a locking slot 18 of muzzle brake 10 (FIG. 2A), which is acut out shape stop.

The cutouts on internal locking surface 26 may match the shape of theexternal alignment key 16 on the muzzle brake 10, which may be atriangle or have a slight angle. The female part (internal lockingdevice 30 of FIG. 4A) may go over the front male part of the muzzlebrake 10 until it contacts the back of locking slot 18. As thesuppressor is rotated, the internal locking device 30 rotatescounterclockwise into locking slot 18. As the suppressor continues torotate, since internal locking device 30 and tensioning ring 40 aremated by threads, the suppressor moves rearward until the female rearexternal gas check 12 or internal gas check 34 contacts the male gascheck or seal that is part of the brake or is machined as part of thebarrel.

As depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an embodiment of a tensioning ring 40may mate up with an internal locking device 30 (shown in FIG. 4A) bymeans of internal screws threads 32 that match with the externalscrew-threaded surface 28 of the internal locking device 30. Thetensioning ring 40 can be fastened at its extreme end to the inner orouter shell of the suppressor body at a smooth outer surface 33, forexample, by welding or any other acceptable method. The outside diameterof tensioning ring 40 may be from about 1 to 6 inches and can bethreaded with appropriate sized screw threads 28 to mate up with aninternal threaded surface of tensioning ring 40.

As depicted in FIGS. 6A and 6B, an embodiment of a rear cap 50 may seatagainst the muzzle brake 10. Embodiments of a rear cap 50 may comprisean internal gas check 34 that has an angle matching the external gascheck 12 of the muzzle brake 10 (shown in FIG. 2A), and together gascheck 34 and gas check 12 may seal the gases. Embodiments may alsocomprise an internal step 36 that matches the internal diameter of thesuppressor tube into which rear cap 50 can be inserted or attached. Rearcap 50 has an outer diameter 38 that may match the outer diameter of thesuppressor tube, to provide a matching surface to weld and which mayimprove appearance. The rear cap 50 may be fastened to the body of thesuppressor by methods including welding or screw threads.

As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 7, an embodiment of an attachmentdevice 100 may include a muzzle brake 10, which screws onto or otherwiseattaches to a firearm 62, and a suppressor attachment 64, which attachesto a suppressor tube 60 with an internal locking device 30 and atensioning ring 40.

As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 8, an embodiment of an attachmentdevice 100 may allow a suppressor tube 60 with a suppressor attachment64 to removably attach to a firearm 62 with a muzzle brake 10.

Embodiments of a muzzle brake may be made of steel, for example type4150, but may be made of any metal. Embodiments may range in diameterfrom about 0.625 to over 3 inches. The length may be from about 1.5 toover 20 inches. The mount may be part of the muzzle device or may bemachined directly into a rifle barrel. The internal alignment guide,internal locking device, tensioning ring, and rear cap may be made of amaterial that matches the suppressor body. Elements of the device may bemanufactured on a lathe with sections to be machined being processedwith a milling machine.

Embodiments of the invention may be used by first mounting the muzzlebrake to the host weapon. The suppressor may then be mounted by placingthe suppressor over the muzzle brake and rotating it until it stops. Toremove the device, the suppressor may be rotated in the oppositedirection. The muzzle brake may remain on the weapon, while other partsmay be inside and/or part of the suppressor, and may be removed with thesuppressor. The internal structure may be designed so that if anoperator does not properly attach the device, no harm results. When thedevice is on the weapon, it may be in alignment whether it has beentightened or not.

Embodiments of a device to attach a suppressor to the muzzle of afirearm may include: a muzzle brake that attaches to the muzzle of afirearm and comprises a male part of a suppressor lock and a gasflow-directing opening; an internal alignment guide that attaches to themuzzle brake and guides the insertion of the suppressor into the muzzlebrake; an internal locking device that attaches to the muzzle brake andcomprises a female part of the suppressor lock; a tensioning ring thatattaches to the internal locking device and is fastened to the shell ofa suppressor body; and a rear cap that attaches to the rearmost part ofthe suppressor body and cooperates with the gas flow-directing openingof the muzzle brake to seal in gases.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A device to attach a sound suppressor to a firearm, comprising: amuzzle brake that attaches to a muzzle of the firearm; a suppressorattachment that attaches to an interior surface of a suppressor tube ofthe sound suppressor; a suppressor lock that comprises: an extendingpart on an end of the muzzle brake, having a first attachment point nearthe muzzle for both sealing and locking, and a second, distal attachmentpoint for locking; a corresponding ending part on the suppressorattachment, having a third attachment point for both sealing andlocking, and a fourth attachment point for locking; and a threaded,rotating ring within the suppressor attachment; wherein, when thesuppressor tube is rotated relative to the muzzle, the suppressor tubeis driven utilizing the rotating ring toward the firearm, the firstattachment point wedges to and locks with the third attachment point,thereby providing both a gas seal and a first lock, and the secondattachment point is in contact with the fourth attachment point, therebyproviding a second lock.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thesuppressor attachment further comprises: an alignment guide thatcooperates with the muzzle break, to guide the insertion of the soundsuppressor onto the firearm.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein: thethird attachment point is on a cap at an end of the suppressorattachment, and has a tensioning ring that attaches to the suppressorlock.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a tensioning ringthat attaches to the locking device and is fastened to the suppressor;and a rear cap that attaches to the rearmost part of the suppressor bodyand cooperates with the gas flow-directing opening of the muzzle braketo seal in gases.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the muzzle brake hasa gas flow-directing opening.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein themuzzle brake is a flash hider.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein themuzzle brake is releasably attached to the muzzle of the firearm.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the muzzle brake is 0.625 inches to 3 inchesin diameter, length is from about 1.5 inches to 20 inches.
 9. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the muzzle brake includes a locking slot having ashape that matches with a shape of an internal locking device of thesuppressor attachment.
 10. A device to attach a suppressor to the muzzleof a firearm, comprising: a muzzle brake that attaches to the muzzle ofthe firearm and comprises a extending part of a suppressor lock and agas flow-directing opening; an internal alignment guide that attaches tothe muzzle brake and guides the insertion of the suppressor to themuzzle brake; an internal locking device that attaches to the muzzlebrake and comprises a feextending part of the suppressor lock; atensioning ring that attaches to the internal locking device and isfastened to the suppressor; and a rear cap that attaches to the rearmostpart of the suppressor body and cooperates with the gas flow-directingopening of the muzzle brake to seal in gases.